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To Serve Or To Be Served

Matthew 20 tells how a mother was so proud of her sons that she came to Jesus to ask for him to give them power and authority.

As she approached, Jesus asked her, "What do you want?"

"Tell me that these two sons of mine are to sit beside you, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your kingdom," she replied.

Jesus responded that she did not know what she was asking. Jesus knew that he would sit at the right hand of the Father, and she was essentially asking Jesus to give up his Father's throne. "Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" asked Jesus to the boys. They said that they were.

Jesus told them that they would drink his cup, but that the seats at the right hand and the left hand were not his to grant. Those seats were prepared by His Father.

When the ten with Jesus heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. They felt it was unfair treatment that they were not given such a blessing when they had devoted their lives to Jesus.

But Jesus told them to come and listen to His words. "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles are lords over these two, and the great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you." Jesus said that the ones that were great among the ten must be the servant, and whoever would be first among them must be their slave.

Jesus said that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but came to serve. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many.

As Christians, we should ask ourselves: Do we want our children to have great things in this earth, or do we long for them to have great things in heaven? Do we love our children enough to wish that they would suffer as Jesus suffered? Some now teach that God is "1" like a person's finger, and if placed in this woman's position, would they be asking Jesus to give up his own throne? Do we think great, respected men of God in this day will sit as rulers over those they now rule, when Jesus says here the first shall be last and the last shall be first? Are we here to serve, or are we here to be served?